The '''Crissaegrim''' were home to the great [[Eagles]] of [[Thorondor]].

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{{location

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| image=

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| name=Crissaegrim

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| othernames=

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| etymology=

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| type=Mountain Range

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| location=South of [[Gondolin]], north of [[Dimbar]]

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| inhabitants=[[Eagles]]

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| realms=[[Thorondor]]'s realm

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| description=Unclimbable peaks protecting Gondolin from the south

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| events=The flight of [[Húrin]] and [[Huor]] into Gondolin

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}}

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The '''Crissaegrim''' were a mountain range, forming a part of the southern [[Echoriad|Echoriath]], the ''Encircling Mountains'' of [[Gondolin]], and were inaccessible from the ground. However they were home to the great [[Eagles]],<ref name="Beleriand">{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> and from here [[Thorondor]], Lord of the Eagles, watched for spies in the vale of the River [[Sirion]]. Indeed, the Eagles were the chief source of information to [[Turgon]] and the [[Gondolindrim]].

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The Crissaegrim formed a part of the southern [[Echoriath]], the ''Encircling Mountains'' of [[Gondolin]].

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It was from the Crissaegrim that Thorondor espied [[Húrin]] and [[Huor]] when they were lost in [[Dimbar]]. The Lord of the Eagles sent two great birds to carry the men above the Crissaegrim into [[Tumladen]], when King [[Turgon]] of Gondolin welcomed them.<ref>{{CH|1}}, p. 35</ref>

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It was here that Thorondor, Lord of the Eagles lived, and from here he watched for spies in the vale of the River [[Sirion]]. Indeed, the Eagles were the chief source of information to [[Turgon]] and the [[Gondolildrim]].

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== Etymology ==

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''Crissaegrim'' is a [[Sindarin]] name meaning "Cleft Mountain Peaks", but it is usually referred to as the "'''Eagles' Cleft'''"{{fact}} or "'''Abode of Eagles'''".<ref name="Beleriand"/>

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Its name is [[Sindarin]] for "cleft mountain peaks", but in Tolkien's stories it is usually referred to as the "Eagles' Cleft" or "Abode of Eagles" because the peaks were inaccessible from the ground.

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==Other versions of the legendarium==

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In early versions of the [[Quenta Silmarillion]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] used the name '''''Gochressiel''''', which he amended to ''Crisaegrim'' (later spelt ''Crissaegrim''). [[Christopher Tolkien]] has noted that the name ''Gochressiel'' might not have referred exclusively to this southern section of the mountains, but rather to the whole of Echoriath.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}}, pp. 285, 290-1</ref>

The Crissaegrim were a mountain range, forming a part of the southern Echoriath, the Encircling Mountains of Gondolin, and were inaccessible from the ground. However they were home to the great Eagles,[1] and from here Thorondor, Lord of the Eagles, watched for spies in the vale of the River Sirion. Indeed, the Eagles were the chief source of information to Turgon and the Gondolindrim.

It was from the Crissaegrim that Thorondor espied Húrin and Huor when they were lost in Dimbar. The Lord of the Eagles sent two great birds to carry the men above the Crissaegrim into Tumladen, when King Turgon of Gondolin welcomed them.[2]

Etymology

Crissaegrim is a Sindarin name meaning "Cleft Mountain Peaks", but it is usually referred to as the "Eagles' Cleft"[source?] or "Abode of Eagles".[1]

Other versions of the legendarium

In early versions of the Quenta Silmarillion, Tolkien used the name Gochressiel, which he amended to Crisaegrim (later spelt Crissaegrim). Christopher Tolkien has noted that the name Gochressiel might not have referred exclusively to this southern section of the mountains, but rather to the whole of Echoriath.[3]